Grate Or Great??? Updated 9/25/12

[J Francho]

And you want to hear something that is really sad with regards to that? My sister-in-law was going to send her kids to public school where they live until they found out from a friend that they were forbidden by the school to read to their own kids at home. The school said that it put the kids that were read to at home an unfair advantage in the classroom to the kids that weren't read to at home. Therefore instead of having kids that want to learn at an accelerated rate, they had kids that are held back from learning so that the other kids can "catch up"..

Thusly, my sister-in-law home schools...

I really don't think this really happened. Can you provide some more info? Districts, some stated policy?

[moguy1973]

I really don't think this really happened. Can you provide some more info? Districts, some stated policy?

Not sure on the district or school but it happened in Columbia, Missouri at one of the elementary schools when on of my nephews was ready to start kindergarten.

[J Francho]

I think it's just a story to justify home schooling, which I don't have a problem with, so long as the home schooler is an accredited educator. If it is true, it has to have been taken out of context, or misunderstood. It certainly isn't the norm.

[Bassn Blvd]

PART II

She did it again!

I reviewed my son's paperork before leaving his classroom today to see if the teacher made the same mistake. Again, she wrote "Grate Job!" So, what did I do? I spoke to the teacher in private and asked her who grades the assignments, because there are two teachers assigned to the class. The teacher said she is the one who graded my son's work. I POLITELY told her she used the wrong word to describe something very good and explained the meaning of "great" and "grate."

I went home and told the wife the teacher made the same mistake and that I confronted her about it. Now the wife is embarrassed to go to the school because she's affraid I was a SMART ARS to the teacher. I don't know why my wife would think that about me .

I also called and spoke to the vice-principal of the school. The vice-principal was more than embarrassed and tried to explain why the teacher made the mistake, which I cannot say on here because It would lead to a political discussion and I would get another warning. Let's just say English is the teacher's second language, BUT she has the "credentials" to teach and she's a very nice person who means well.

A part of me feels as though I'm making a big issue out of something small while another part of me feels as though i did the right thing by pointing out the mistake. Kids at four years of age are like sponges and soak up a majority of what is taught to them. I don't want my son to learn the wrong meaning of the word grate.

[retiredbosn]

Hey Franco,

I'm sure this grate lady is accredited, still want her teaching your kids, lol. Homeschooled kids are reported (I know you will want a link), to have higher SAT, ACT scores, and in many states must submit to the same standardized testing and on average kick public school student's can.

FWIW in the state of VA, you don't even need a degree to substitute teach for up to 2 weeks continually the same class!!! I will ammend this to say 2 years ago it was like that, NC was the same. The public school system is falling apart.

[J Francho]

I think you have to examine what is available to you, and your personal situation. There is no access to any decent home schooling to me. Public schools are the best option. But that's my situation. I live in a state that cares about education.

[J Francho]

Anyway. the OP is about a pre-k "teacher." I'm not sure what training they need, if any at all, beyond the basic daycare provider and emergency certs. Not saying there aren't great pre-K teachers - my sons both went to some great pre-K schools, but I paid for them.

[deaknh03]

PART II

She did it again!

I reviewed my son's paperork before leaving his classroom today to see if the teacher made the same mistake. Again, she wrote "Grate Job!" So, what did I do? I spoke to the teacher in private and asked her who grades the assignments, because there are two teachers assigned to the class. The teacher said she is the one who graded my son's work. I POLITELY told her she used the wrong word to describe something very good and explained the meaning of "great" and "grate."

I went home and told the wife the teacher made the same mistake and that I confronted her about it. Now the wife is embarrassed to go to the school because she's affraid I was a SMART ARS to the teacher. I don't know why my wife would think that about me .

I also called and spoke to the vice-principal of the school. The vice-principal was more than embarrassed and tried to explain why the teacher made the mistake, which I cannot say on here because It would lead to a political discussion and I would get another warning. Let's just say English is the teacher's second language, BUT she has the "credentials" to teach and she's a very nice person who means well.

A part of me feels as though I'm making a big issue out of something small while another part of me feels as though i did the right thing by pointing out the mistake. Kids at four years of age are like sponges and soak up a majority of what is taught to them. I don't want my son to learn the wrong meaning of the word grate.

You did the same thing myself, and probably many other fed up parents would have done, and all of our wives would have been just as upset with us for saying something.

[J Francho]

At least she didn't write Greta Job! lol.

Doug, I'd have done the same as you. I'm thinking my ex wife would have beat me to the punch, though. That woman lies in wait for mistakes like this.

[moguy1973]

I think it's just a story to justify home schooling, which I don't have a problem with, so long as the home schooler is an accredited educator. If it is true, it has to have been taken out of context, or misunderstood. It certainly isn't the norm.

She was probably going to home school anyways since she has an elementary education degree, and since they were moving to Houston TX for a year following that year, but that sealed the deal. My wife and I couldn't believe it either but it was the case, at least in that school.

[Bassn Blvd]

Anyway. the OP is about a pre-k "teacher." I'm not sure what training they need, if any at all, beyond the basic daycare provider and emergency certs. Not saying there aren't great pre-K teachers - my sons both went to some great pre-K schools, but I paid for them.

You are correct. From what I understand after talking to the principal is pre-k and K teachers do not need the same level of education as other teachers, 2nd grade and up. They need 45 hours of training in basic daycare and I'm sure some other type of formal training.

One of my son's teachers (the "lead" teacher) has her BS while the other does not. The BS teacher is on leave to get married, leaving the other, non BS degree teacher to run the class.

The lady seems to handle the kids really well and I'm sure she's trying very hard to better herself and advance her education. I just don't know what other mistakes she has made in the classroom.

I also understand we're talking pre-k, but, as with any parent, I just want the best for my kid. I guess the best advice I can give myself is to stay personally involved in my son's academics and do not soley rely on the school system or allow the school system to take the place of me. "WE" are the parents and "WE" must stay involved in the development of our children.

[tyrius.]

My sister-in-law was going to send her kids to public school where they live until they found out from a friend that they were forbidden by the school to read to their own kids at home.

Garbage. There is absolutely no way that a school can FORBID a parent from reading to their kids. The real story is likely completely and utterly different than the story that your sister in law "heard" from a friend. it's likely that the class had a group project, like a book, that they were reading in class and the teacher didn't want the students to read ahead so that they could all read it at the same time.

But, forbidding the parents to read to the kids at home? Crazy talk.

[tyrius.]

I'm thinking public schools in SC are a world apart from public school in NY. My kids can spell, read, write, and do math. They are even graded. I didn't have to teach them this.

My kids are graded on everything. My second grader is getting comments about asking critical thinking questions when he writes a two sentence summary of the book he read. His math homework is graded by the computer right when takes it and if he misses too many questions he gets extra work!

[slonezp]

I really don't think this really happened. Can you provide some more info? Districts, some stated policy?

Don't know about forbidding kids from reading at home, but my sister pulled my neice and nephew out of public school and put them in private because, in the case of my neice, there were remedial kids in her class and the teaching was dumbed down. In the case of my nephew, who is intelligent but slightly autistic, didn't have the cirriculum for his advancement.

Don't know if it's in the news elsewhere, but Chicago public school teachers just went thru a strike, which was IMO more political than anything. One of the issues under discussion was merit pay. 40% drop out rate for CPS students. If a teacher cannot spell well, then....

Now, teachers don't always grade their papers. My sister(same as above) is a part time college professor. She pays her employees (my son) to grade the classes papers.

[J Francho]

Likewise here. And when they finish early, they get more work. I won't say I haven't had issues with our public schools, mostly overlooking my oldest because he was getting Cs which to them was passing. Not good enough for me, and it took some pressure from my end to get him some attention. They responded, though and he's a B student with a few As peppered in. I'm pleased with them.

[preach4bass]

You are correct. From what I understand after talking to the principal is pre-k and K teachers do not need the same level of education as other teachers, 2nd grade and up. They need 45 hours of training in basic daycare and I'm sure some other type of formal training.

One of my son's teachers (the "lead" teacher) has her BS while the other does not. The BS teacher is on leave to get married, leaving the other, non BS degree teacher to run the class.

The lady seems to handle the kids really well and I'm sure she's trying very hard to better herself and advance her education. I just don't know what other mistakes she has made in the classroom.

I also understand we're talking pre-k, but, as with any parent, I just want the best for my kid. I guess the best advice I can give myself is to stay personally involved in my son's academics and do not soley rely on the school system or allow the school system to take the place of me. "WE" are the parents and "WE" must stay involved in the development of our children.

This is not true in NC. My wife got a BS in K-6 grade education. However, when she graduated, she took a job teaching Pre-K with the public schools in NC. She was hired on the condition that she go back to school (night classes) and get her Birth-Pre-K add-on license. She did, and has since earned her masters in early childhood education. Two years ago she was took a position in a different county overseeing two Head Start Pre-K teachers who did not yet have their teaching license. Her job was to guide them through getting their degrees/license as their program was grafted into the state More at Four Pre-K program. So, here in NC, Pre-K teachers must have more than a girl scout badge in babysitting.

That being said, I agree with your last statement: Stay involved with your kids' education!

[Bassn Blvd]

^^^ It very well could be the same here in Florida, I just don't know. Perhaps it's ignorance on my part for believing all teachers are academically qualified to teach. I know we have some teachers on here and I wish they would give their input.

For what it's worth, I'm in no way bashing any teacher or our school system. It's just unfortunate that this particular teacher may not be as qualified as I would expect to teach. I dislike being negative towards someone who is really trying to excell in their endeavors, but sometimes trying isn't good enough.

[J Francho]

Don't know about forbidding kids from reading at home, but my sister pulled my neice and nephew out of public school and put them in private because, in the case of my neice, there were remedial kids in her class and the teaching was dumbed down. In the case of my nephew, who is intelligent but slightly autistic, didn't have the cirriculum for his advancement.

Don't know if it's in the news elsewhere, but Chicago public school teachers just went thru a strike, which was IMO more political than anything. One of the issues under discussion was merit pay. 40% drop out rate for CPS students. If a teacher cannot spell well, then....

Now, teachers don't always grade their papers. My sister(same as above) is a part time college professor. She pays her employees (my son) to grade the classes papers.

Both my sisters have kids on the spectrum, and getting them situated in a program that works for them can difficult. Not all schools are equipped for this, but it's getting better.

[retiredbosn]

Getting remedial help for students is getting better, but try find a program for a kid that is above average, is totally bored with school, and is being dumbed down everyday. The school asked to promote my daughter from the 1st to 3rd grade, which I refused, I was lucky enough that she had a teacher that would allow her to do work from that grade, I had to buy the books but at least she was learning and being challenged, now that she is in grad school she has a very solid study skill set. My youngest son is bored, and as of now we are having trouble finding an appropriate solution as the teacher is not willing to allow him to do more complicated work during the school day.

[Bassn Blvd]

Yep, lower the standards so kids can be "equal." The same thing is true for the teachers, that's why my son has one who doesn't know the basic English language.

Same holds true for law enforcement and many other government jobs.

[roadwarrior]

We have outstanding public schools here in Germantown.

When my son was a senior he had "run out of math" so he

was allowed to take 9 hours at Rhodes College. He graduated

from Kenyon with degrees in both Anthropology and Molecular

Biology. This summer he graduated from medical school and

is now practicing in New Mexico.

I kiddingly refer to my daughter as "the dumb one", she received

one B in college! She graduated Magna Cum Laude with Thesis

and "Top Prospect" for law school. She completes her Master's

Degree in December.

[deaknh03]

We have outstanding public schools here in Germantown.

When my son was a senior he had "run out of math" so he

was allowed to take 9 hours at Rhodes College. He graduated

from Kenyon with degrees in both Anthropology and Molecular

Biology. This summer he graduated from medical school and

is now practicing in New Mexico.

I kiddingly refer to my daughter as "the dumb one", she received

one B in college! She graduated Magna Cum Laude with Thesis

and "Top Prospect" for law school. She completes her Master's

Degree in December.

Congrats, you should be proud, you did a great job raising those kids, the schools helped, but this is all you.

[Bassn Blvd]

We have outstanding public schools here in Germantown.

When my son was a senior he had "run out of math" so he

was allowed to take 9 hours at Rhodes College. He graduated

from Kenyon with degrees in both Anthropology and Molecular

Biology. This summer he graduated from medical school and

is now practicing in New Mexico.

I kiddingly refer to my daughter as "the dumb one", she received

one B in college! She graduated Magna Cum Laude with Thesis

and "Top Prospect" for law school. She completes her Master's

Degree in December.

Appears you fathered two great kids with a very smart mother .

J/K, I'm sure you had a little to do with it too.

[SirSnookalot]

Education is a major concern these days, at face value education seems to be not nearly as good as when I was a kid in the 50's and 60's. At that time Detroit was regarded as having some of the finest schools in the country, sadly that is no longer the case. Everyone tries to cast the blame elsewhere, and that can be one heck of a debate, but a MAJOR problem is the lack of direction from parents, especially in our inner cities. As a kid, my parents and the parents of all my cousins were involved, each and every one us have advanced degrees, with professional careers or business owners, some of us are now retired. My wife's kids (I got them late in High School) were given the same kind of opportunities, my wife is a wonderful mother, their father was a high school teacher, I take no credit. These kids now have kids of their own and education is first and foremost, I'm hopeful they will excel in life.

My heart goes out to the children of 1 parent homes, or where both parents are working more than 1 job and don't have the time to devote to their children, gotta say some just don't care. No one ever said life is fair, many success stories have their roots in previous generations creating the right atmosphere along with financial support.

[moguy1973]

Garbage. There is absolutely no way that a school can FORBID a parent from reading to their kids. The real story is likely completely and utterly different than the story that your sister in law "heard" from a friend. it's likely that the class had a group project, like a book, that they were reading in class and the teacher didn't want the students to read ahead so that they could all read it at the same time.

But, forbidding the parents to read to the kids at home? Crazy talk.

Found out that they were allowed to read to their kids at home, but only books that the class was supposed to read and no other books. Her friend was actually "talked to" by the schools principal and warned that they were to no longer read other materials to their kids.

And yeah, it's crazy that it actually happens like that.